Fastener for tub covers



Feb. 10, 1931. E. c. PAGEL I FASTENER FOR TUB COVERS Fil ed Feb. 6. 192

Patented Feb. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT oFrica iinnns'r c. PAGEL, or cnIcAGo, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR roELem BUTTERFTUB COMPANY,

or ELGIN, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or. rumors.

msrnnnn FOR TUB covERs Applicationfiled February 6, 1929;. Serial no. 337,907.

This invention relates to a fastening means for a receptacle cover, and while the invention is applicable to many covers for receptacles, it is particularly designed to hold a cover on'a butter tub. A very successful and eflicient cover for a tub or similar receptacle has recently been developed, which cover has a metallic flange depending about the top of the tub or receptacle. The fastener of the present invention is particularly adapted to be used with this cover.

- It is an object of this invention, therefore,

' to provide a very simple and eflicient form of fastener for holding a cover on a tub or other receptacle. 1

' It is a further object of the invention to provide a fastener or holder for holding a cover on a tub or other receptacle,comprising a strip of material having means at one end adapted to be driven into the receptacle and having a substantially right angle bend adjacent its other end, the strip being bent into a curve or eye adjacent said right angle bend. 7 It is more specifically an object of the invention to provide a fastener or holder for holding a cover on a tub or receptacle which cover has a depending flange with a slot therethrough, said holder comprising a narrow strip of material having means at one I end adapted to be driven'into the side of the receptacle and having a substantially right angular bend adjacent its other end, the portion beyond said bend being inserted through said'slot and being bent into an eyelet so as to "be disposed adjacent the tub,said "right anglebend extending under the edge of said flange and closely adjacent the tub. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views,and in which Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the upper portion of a tub with the cover thereon showing the fastener applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1 as indicated by the arrows;

.Fig. 3 is a view in vertical section of the fastener thereto;

"Fig. 4: is a perspective view of the fastener before being applied to the cover and tub;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of the fastener, and I F ig. 6 is a perspective View of still another modificationof'the fastener. I

' Referring to the drawings, a portion of the upper part of a receptacle 10 is shown and while the receptacle might be of' various forms, in the embodiment of the invention illustrateclit is shown as in the form of a wooden tub having a slight-upward flare. The tub has a cover -11 -thereon-having a metallic binding 11asecuredon its edge which binding has-a depending flange 11?) shown as flaring slightly downwardly and-having a bead 110 at itslower edge. The flange 11?) "is provided witha plurality of slots, one of which 1103 is shown. These slots areso'mewhat elongated and extenclparallel to and adj acent the bead 11c. A hoop 10a is shown as extending aboutthe tub 10. While the invention is applicable to various kinds of covers, the one shown has been foundto be a Very successful cover and is being commercially marketed. I

The fastener of the invention comprises a strip ofmaterial 12, which strip is preferably made .of metal such as iron and has prongs 12a formed at one end and bent substantially at aright anglethereto. It will be noted that the terminal prong- 12a is made by cutting away a portion of the side of said strip, said portion' being slightly tapered, while the inner prong 12a is somewhat shorterand made by punching out the prong from the side of the strip. Both prongs are sharpened at quite an angle, the incline being disposed oppositely on the respective prongs. The strip 12 adjacent its other end is bent outwardly as shown at 125 at a sharp angle and .as illustrated, substantially at a right angle. The portionof strip 12 beyond the bend 12b is then reversely bent in a curve 120 which is shown as substantially semi-cylintub, and cover showing the application of the dricaL. The terminal portion 12d then eX- tends at a right angle to the, main portion of strip 12 and as illustrated in Fig. 4, the same extends substantially at a right angle to strip 12.

In applying the fastener to the cover 11, the cover is first placed in position on the tub 10 as shown in Figs. 1, 2;a'nd 8. v The terminal portion 12d is then placed downwardly through the slot 11d until the curved portion 120 rests on the bead 11c or on the bottom of slot 11d. The' stri'p 1-2is then swungin wajrdly 1 toward the tub, theterminal portion 1 2(Z'thus being further bent and brought into, substantially parallel relation with the main portion 12 of the strip, a substantially complete cylindrical eyelet being formed at the curved portion 120 and said-terminaliportion 12d being disposed between the tub andrthe inainaportion of strip 12. The [prongs 12a are then driven into the side of the tub and the fastener occupies the position shown in Fig. 2. It will be noted that the terminal portion 126? is at the'innerside-of the fastener and there are thus no ends, points or terminal portions exposed. The cover is securely held in position on the tub. When the cover is to be removed the prongs-,12a can be easily pried out witha screw-driver or other thin implement and the fastener can remain on the cover. Thecover can be-ag'ain lplaced'on the tube and the fasteners again usedfo'r securing the same. The prongs 12a will of course preferablybe driven into another place in the tub than that which they originally-occupied. I

In Fig. 5 a different form of fastener is shown comprising a strip 13 havingprongs 13a at one end similar to 'the'prongs 12a on the strip 12. The upper end of strip 13 is bent outwardly into a partially'cylindrical form as sho'wn 'at 1'3b. This fastener w ill be applied to the tub by looping the portion 13?) through the slot 11d and then drivingthe :portion 13 into the side of the tub. If desired, the portion 13?) may bemore completely closed after being engaged with the cover.

In Fig. fianother modification is shown in which-astrip 14 is-used,the-sa me having holes adjacentone end to receive the lugs-ofa staple 15. Strip 14 has a bend 14a intermediate its ends, the portion 14b beyond the bend 14a then being bent intoia curve to extend substantially parallel to theportion of thestrip adjacent the staple 15. The strip of fastener 14 will be applied in the same manner-as the fastener 1-2. a he portion14b will be inserted downwardly "through-"the slot llduntil' the portion adjacent the bend 14a rests on the bead 110 or the bottom of the slot 11d. The strip 14 is thenxswung toward "the tub thus bending terminal portion 146 until it comes into position substantially parallel to the portion 14 and disposed between the same and the side of the tub. Staple 15 is then driven into the side of the tub. Whencompleted the fastener 14 will appear very muohas the fastener 12 except that the portion 14b is longer. The strip 14 is usually made of thinner metal than the strip 12.

From the above description it is seen that applicant has provided an easily applied, simple and eiiicientfastener for-a receptacle cover. The fastener may be easily andquickly made and at small expense. The same is easily applied and actsto secure the cover in place very firmly. The fastener remains on the cO'verandas-zibove stated, can be repeatedly used. Also as set forth above, there are no projectingends on which the clothing or hands of the operator may be injured. The slight taper on the terminal prong 12a and the. shorter :inner pron-g {permit ease of driving-ofthe prongsi-and prevents: spreading-of the prongs before the I drivingi's completed. It will be noted that the angle which the prongs 1-2a-make with the main body portion 12 of the fastener, as clearly shown in Figs. 2; and 3', is somewhat less than a right angle. The prongsare sobent so that-they will; more easily drive into the side ofthe tub. If the prongs were exactly right angular or any greater than right angulartherewould be a tendency to widen the angle as the prongs were driven into the tub. It is the intention to, make the prongs so that they start somewhat upwardly into the side of the tub along the general line of an arc drawn with its center at the center of the eyelet at the top of the fastener, This makes it much easier to drivethe prongs without the same bending.

The device has been amply demonstrated in actual;practiceand foundto be very successfuland efficient. The same has been enthusiasticallyendorsed bybutter dealers and is "being commercially manufactured. P

Itwil l, of course, be understood that various changes may-be made in the form, details, proportions and arrangement of the parts, withoutdeparti-ngfrom the scope of applicants invention, which, generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the novel parts and: combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the-appended claims.

What. is claimed-is V 1. A combination with, a container cover havinga rim5at its-edgedisposed-adjacent the side ofsaid container and havingaslotj therethrough, jofa fastener comprisinga; strip having one end extendingdownwardly through said slot, saidstrip, being bent downwardly to form an eyelet einbracin-gthe portion. of said rim below said slotysa-id strip being bent substantially at arig-ht angle at thelower outer side o' f'saideyelet so-asto extend'dow nwardly along th'eside of said container and having means 'at its lower end adapted-to be driven i'nto the side ofsaid container. and \vithdraw'able therefrom. v

2. A combination with a container cover having ari'mat itsxedge disposed-adj a'cent the side of said container and having a slot therethrough, of a fastener comprising a strip having an upper portion extending downwardly through said slot to extend along the side of said container, said strip being then bent downwardly and forming an eyelet ex tending over and around the portion of said rim below said slot, said strip having a substantially right angle bend therein at the lower side of said eyelet and below said rim, the portion below said bend extending downwardly alongside of the container and overlying said upper portion and having sharpened means at its lower end driven into the side of said container and Withdrawable therefrom.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ERNEST C. PAGEL. 

